Paper-feeding mechanism



w. M. KELLY.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM. APFLICATIOVN rum act. 13, :916. RENEWED OCT. 11, 1921. 1,401,707, Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 1.

Adair 70114.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

ISHEETS-SHEET 2.

wil'ncoo W.'M. KELLY. PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED ocr. 13, ms. RENEWED cam. 11. I921. 1,401,707..

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

7SHEETSSHEET 3- w. KELLY. PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 06113, l-Qlfi. RENEWED OCT-11,192I- SHEET H 4- 6 7 S S EET W. M, KELLY. PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0611-3, 1916- RENEWED OCT. ll, I92!- IAOlJQT, Patented Deon 27, 1921,

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

76% Af/w 1 WW W. M. KELLY.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3, 19l6. RENEWED oc T. 11.1921.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

ZSHEUS-SHEET B.

PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I'3I l9I6' RENEWED OCT-1!,192l- Patented Deb. 27, 1921.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7- mm stares PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. KELLY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY;

PAPER- EEDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat nt d D v 27 1921;

Application filed October 13, 1916, Serial No. 125,429. Renewed ctober 11,'1921. Serial No. 507,157.

o a ll whom it-may concern:

. tion;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at J ers'ey City, Hudson county, State of New Jersey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specifica This application is in part a continuation of my application Serial No. 44,557, filed August 9, 1915,

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism .and the objects are to provide a pneumatic, means for intermittently withdrawing the top sheet from a pile of sheets; to provide a secondary means for bringing the top sheet to the pneumatic means; to provide means for rendering this second means inoperative at will; to provide means for elevating the pile of sheets; to furnish mechanism for controlling the action of the pile elevating means whereby the height of the pile. co'ntrols said elevating means; to arrange the parts so that the-mechanism for elevating the pile of sheets is not and cannot be operative while a sheet is being withdrawn by the pneumatic means; to provide a novel form of nozzle for discharging air to separate -the top sheets of the pile; to pro-- vide means for elevating the pile which may be easily rendered inoperatlve. so that the pile of sheets may be adjusted manually; to

provide a novel form of fingers to guide the zpileof sheets; to provide a novel 'form of device for-controlling the number of sheets that may be. fed; and to provide means for raisin'gthetop sheet of' the pile to permit the air blast to enter thereunder.

These and other features of the invention including. certaindetails of construction and combination ofparts will be set forth in the following description and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the feeding mechanism showing the table, the screws for elevating the same, the suction wheels, etc.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; 1 I

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing the relation between-the perforations in the suction wheels, the crankpin and the ratchet feed device; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in plan partly in section showing the half 'nuts whichi cooperate with the feed screws, and the links for operating them Fig. 7 s a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 1s a perspective viewof the blast nozzle;

Fig, 9 is a plan view of a detail;

F 1g. 10 is a sectional view-of the parts shown in Fig. 9; I

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken substa'ntially'on the line 11-11 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a frame of any suitable construction which, it

will be understood, willbe-secured onthe .chine and project through the brackets 12 and 13, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1. The v screws16 and 17 do not have threaded connection with the brackets 12 and 13, but have cooperating therewith the half nuts 20 and 21 which arepivoted at 20' and 21' to the brackets 12 and 13, respectively, and adapted to swing horizontally thereon. The nuts 20 and 21 are threaded to correspond to the.

screws 16 and 17 and when in engagement with the screws serve as a means for operatively connecting the feed table 11 with the screws so that by rotating the latter the table may be raised and lowered.

The screws 16 and 17 are preferably provided with the threads the upper surfaces of which, bearing the table and the pile of sheets thereon, are substantially normal to the axes of the screws so as to have the. ad-

vantages of the square thread, with respect to durability. The lower surface of the threads are inclined and-permit the nuts 20 and 21 to be readily meshed with the screws at any point along the latter.

A handle 22 is pivoted at 23 to the under side of the table 11 and the links 24 and 25 connect the handle 22 with the nuts 20 and 21, respectively. The links 24 and 25 are pivoted to the handle 22 at'the points 26 and 27 on the opposite sides of the pivot 23 so that when the handle 22 is swung on the pivot 23 the nuts 20 and. 21 may be simultaneously thrown into. and out "of engagement with their cotiperating screws. As the parts are illustrated in Figs. 1 and6, the nuts 20 and 21 mesh with the screws and by swinging the handle 22 through an arc of about 90 degrees the nuts may be disengaged from the screws and the table 11 freely moved up and down along the guides 14 and 15.

, A horizontal shaft 28 is suitably supported in bearings 29v and 30 and is preferably arranged in alinement with the screws 16 and 17 and operatively connected with the latter by the pairs of bevel gears 31 and 32. This construction permits both sides of the. table 11 to be raised and lowered uniformly by rotating the shaft 28.

A shaft 33 is supported in bearings 34 and 35 on the frame of the machine and has secured thereon a gear wheel 36 which meshes with a pinion 36 and is driven thereby, the pinion 36' also. meshing with a gear 37 on the shaft 38, this shaft being mounted .in the bearings 39 and 40 on the frame of the machine. Arranged below the shaft 38 is a feed shaft 41, supported in bearings on the frame of the machine and having secured thereon a bevel gear 42 which meshes with a bevel gear 43 on the vertical drive shaft 44. The shaft 44 is supported in bearings 45 (one being shown) and is driven from any suitable part of the printing press or other machine with which the feeding mechanism is associated.

The pinion 36 meshes with a gear 47 and the gear 47 meshes with and is driven by a gear 49 on the shaft 41.

The shaft 33 carries, approximately at the middle thereof, two wheels 50 and 51.

these wheels having opposed, axially extending, peripheral flanges 52, these flanges each having a series of radial perforations 53, seen most clearly in Figs. 3 and 4. A suction nozzle 54 is supported on the tube 55 and projects between the wheels 50 and 51 and is provided between the wheels with lateral extensions 56 which fit the inner sides of the flanges 52 and have mouths 57 with which the perforations 53 are adapted to register as the wheels 50 and 51 rotate. The nozzle member 54 has a. port 58 in the upper side thereof with which a valve 59 cooperates. The valve 59 is secured on a rock shaft 60 which is mounted in bearings 61 and 62. The shaft 60 carries an arm 63 on which a cam roller 64 is rotatab-ly mounted, this cam roller coiiperat-ing with the cam 65 on the shaft 33. These parts are clarly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and from these figures it will be, evident that the rotation of the cam 65 will produce an oscilla ting motion in the valve 59 and open and close the port 58.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the top of the pile of sheets A is arranged directly below the wheels 50 and 51 andwvhen a suitable suctidncreatiil'g device isv biiheted with the will be practically no tendency to suck the top sheet against. the wheels 50 and 51. Under these conditions there will be no feeding of the sheets from "the top of the pile. The cam 65 normally effects the opening and closing of the valve 59 at regular intervals and this is so timed that the valve 59 will be opened before the rear edge of the sheet reaches a. point directly below the openings 53 which register withfthe mouth 57. It will be noted that the openings 53 are provided only in a portion of the flanges 52 so that when the blank port-ions of these flanges register with the mouths 57 ofthe nozzle member there can be no tendency to draw the top sheet of the pile against the wheels 50 and 51. VVhe-n the wheels have rotated sufficiently to bring the firstof the series of openings 53 into registration with the mouths 57 the top sheet of the pile will be picked up and carried forwardby the wheels, the suction in the nozzle being broken after the front edge of the sheet has passed between the feed tape and the pressure wheels '67, which coiiperate therewith. The feed tapes 66 are driven by the wheels 68 which are secured ,on theshaft 41. After the sheet, which is being forwarded, is caught between the tapes 66 and the pressure rollers 67 the valve 59 may be opened to avoid having'the next succeeding sheet drawn against the wheels 50 and 51, as soon as the rear edge of the first sheet has passed the mouth 57 of the nozzle. This opening of the valve 59 is effected automatically by the cam 65 and the time of closing this valve is also determined by the cam 65. From this it will be seen that the time of picking up the top sheet of the pile and forwarding the same may be varied, with reference to the other parts of the mechar nism either by changes in the shape of the cam 65 or in the angular position of the zle 74 having an outlet 75 at the upper end thereof, the nozzle, being adjustably supported in the bracket 76, which has a clamping screw 77 for securing the nozzle. The

lower end of the nozzle 74 may be connectedwith any 'suitable form of air pump by means of a flexible tube 78 and in practice I have found it desirable to utilize the air discharged by the suction creating device, for the blast nozzle. The hood 79 is-pivoted on the upper end of the nozzle 74, and, as clearly shown inFig. 7 is adapted to deflect the air .from the nozzle .against the edges of the top sheets of the pile, the air entering below the sheets, spreading out in all directions so as .to effect a thorough separation. Diflerent thicknesses and grades machine the shaft 80 has secured'the'reon a of paper stock necessitate variations in the angle of the hood 79 and for the purpose of adjusting this hood I have provided a shaft 80 which is supported in'suitable bearings and extends to one side of the machine. as shown in Fig. 2. The shaft 80 carries an arm 81 which. is connected with the hood 79 by means of a-link 82. At the side of the small handle 83 and a slotted quadrant 84, the latter having in cotiperation therewith a clamping screw 85 for securing the hood 79 and shaft 80in an desired position. In adjusting the nozzle 4 vertically the angle of the hood 79 will be changed and it. is

therefore desirable to have the hood 79 adjustable on the nozzle so as to regulate the direction of the jet of air from the nozzle I in accordance with the height of the nozzle.

In order to guide the top sheets of the pile and prevent their being displaced by the blast of air from the nozzle 74, there is provided at the back corners of the'pile guiding fingers 86, 87 88 and 89. The fingers 86 and 87 are pivoted on ablock 90 which is slidable on the bracket 91 and clamped to the latter by means of the screw 92. The fingers 88 and 89 are pivoted on the.

' block 93 which is slidable on thebracket 94 and clamped to the, latter by'means of the screw 95. From Fig. 5 it will be evident that the fingers 86, and 87 Swing in right) angularly arranged planes and are adapted to receive the corner of the pile'between them. In a similar manner, the fingers 88 and 89 swing in right angularlyarranged planes and are adapted to receive the opposite corner of the pile-between them. These guide fingers are normally held in inclined position as indi- :cated in. Fig. 1, but when swung upwardly from this position the top sheets of the pile may be readily withdrawn. Furthermore, as the feedboard 11 is elevated it will vengage with the. lower-ends of the guide fin gets, and, in 'order'that the fingers may not interfere with themovements of the table, they have their lower ends curved in such manner that the engagement of the table therewithwill result in swinging the fingers upwardly. The bars 91 and 94: are secured to the blocks 96 and 97, respectively, these blocks being carried by the supporting bar 98 and adjustable transversely of the ma-.

chine thereon, clamping screws 99 being '80 In order toautomatically elevate the table 11 as the sheets are removed from the top of the pile and to maintain the topof the pile at a substantially uniform distance from the wheels 50 and 51, within definite limits, there is secured on the shaft 28 a ratchet wheel 238. Beside the ratchet wheel there is journaled on the shaft 28 an elbow lever 239, one arm of which carries a dog 240, this dog cooperating with the ratchet Wheel 238 to rotate the shaft 28 when; the lever 239is oscillated. A rod 241 is pivotally connected at 242 with the lever 239 and the upper end of this rod has a slot 243 I for the crank pin 244- on the disk 245, this disk being secured on the'end of the shaft- 33. The slot 243 is of sufficient length to permit the crank pin 244- to revolve without giving longitudinal movement tothe rod 241 except at the upper part of its rotation.

The parts are designed so that the pin 244 lifts the lever 239 on each stroke enough to just disengage arm 246 from detent 247, so that the detent may be swung by the connecting levers "as the pile is lowered by the removal of the sheets, without having to overcome the friction of the detent rubbing on the arm 246. Under normal-conditions the rod 241 and the lever 239 are substantially motionless. The weightv of the rod 241 and the lever 239 normallytends to swing the lever to the right in Fig. 2 so as to carry the dog 240 backward over the In order to normally ratchet wheel 238. hold the rod 241 in the position shown in Fig. 2 the lever 239 has an arm 246 with whicha'detent 247 cobperates. This detent.

" 7 is pivoted at 248 on a bracket 249 and has pivotally connected with its upper end' an arm 250 on the shaft 251. This shaft is journaled on the brackets 2 52 and .253 and carries an arm 254 that is secured to the a shaft by a clamping. screw 255 and may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft as desired. The free end of the arm 254 carries an adjustable finger 256 which is .secured by means of a clamping. screw 257.

The finger 256 engages the top sheet of the pile substantiallyat the middle of the sheet and in line with the space between the 8 arm 254 along the shaft 251 provides for sheets of different lengths and the arrangement ofthe arm 254 transversely of the machine provides for a uniform action of the parts for all sizes of sheets.

The operation of the table mechanism is as follows:

The detent 247 normally holds the rod 241 in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the pin 244 revolves and slightly rocks the lever 239 at each rotation as described above. As the sheets are withdrawn from the top of the pile the arm 254 gradually drops to maintain the finger 256 in engagement with the top sheet and-the arm 250 will, in consequence have its-lower end swung away from the machine so as to rock the detent 247 on its pivot 248 until the detent becomes disengaged from the arm 246. T he lever 239 and rod 241 will then drop and the succeeding revolution of the pin 244 will lift these parts and thus the ratchet wheel 238 will be carried forward by the dog 240, the shaft 28 being thereby rotated and through the actuation of the screws 16 and 17 the table 11 elevated and the detent 247 restored to its original position. The parts will then remain in this position until a sufficient number of sheets have been withdrawn to cause the detent 247 to be a gain disengaged from the arm 246 when the operation will be repeated.

In order to prevent two sheets from be ing forwarded by the wheels 50 and 51, in case the air blast does not separate the sheets, I have provided a calipering device consisting of the member 258 which is supported on the cross bar 259 and the upper surface of which is arranged substantially on the level of the top of the pile. Arranged above the member 258 is a bracket260 which is supported on thecross bar 98 and has pivoted thereto a finger 261. This finger has an upward extension 262 with which a spring 263 00- operates, this spring tending to hold the finger against the lower endof the adjusting screw 264. By means of the screw 264 the space between the member 258 and the finger 261, at the point 265, may be adjusted to permit one sheet to pass through but to prevent two sheets from-passing. The screw 264 may be locked in any position to which it is ad-.

j usted bymeans of the screw 266.

In order to permit ofa double rolling or inking of the printing forms, it is desirable to be able to feed the sheets only on alternate normal feeding operations. In other words, in the form of the invention shown, to permit double rolling the sheets should be fed only on alternate revolutions of the feed wheels 50 and 51. This is accomplished by providing a star wheel 267 on the frame of the machine directly below the lever 63 and in alinement with the lug 268 on the outer side of the lever. The star wheel is shown as this revolution of the feed wheels.

being formed with four arms, one pair "of off from the low part of the cam 65 so that the valve 59 will be held open and as a consequence no sheet will be fed forward from the pile. Upon the succeeding revolution of the cam wheel 65 the star wheel is turned so that one of its shorter arms is brought into registration with the lug 268 and the roller 64 will be permitted to follow the low. part of the cam and a sheet will be fed forward on From the foregoing it will be evident that a sheet will be fed forward only on alternate revolutions of thefeed wheels and this permits the printing forms to receive a double rolling or ink ing between the printing operations.

Under certain conditions it is desirable to prevent the feeding of sheets. For this purpose a rod 201 guided in brackets 211 and 212 is provided, this rod adapted to be forced toon the frame at 216 and provided with a counterweight 317 which normally holds it against the projection 214. The arm 63 has a laterally projecting lug 217 and when the .bar 201 is moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. 11 the arm 215 will swing down into a.

it will be understood that the high part of the cam raises the arm 63 sufiiciently to permit the upper end of the arm 215'to swing underthe lug 217. In order to manually 'actuate the arm 63 for the purpose of opening the valve 59 the arm has a tail 218 projecting rearwardly of the shaft 60, a spring-pressed plunger 219, coiiperating with the underside, of the tail 218 to normally hold the roller 64 in engagement with the cam. 65. 1 When the arm 215 engages the lug 217 to hold the roller 64 away from the low part of the cam 65 it. will be understood that the valve 59 will be held in the open position and no sheets will I the rod 201 forwardly a hand lever 222 is pivoted on the frame and has its inner end alined with the end of the bar 201. A pin 223 limits the movement of the lever 222 and also that of the bar 201 as will be evident from Fig. 5. When the bar 201 has been moved to the rear it may berestored to its former po sition by means of the hand lever 222.

All of the structure thus far described was substantially disclosed in my said prior application. The following description relates to' the improvements that have been made in the mechanism. An examination of Figs. 3 and 4 will disclose that the crank pin 244 islocated angularly'a few degrees from the nearest perforation 53 in the rim of the wheels and 51.1 As the direction of rotation of the parts is as indicated by the arrows, the crank pin 244, therefore lags be-- hind the perforations 53. This angular relation is a very important feature, because it makes it impossible to elevate the-feed table with its pile of sheets while the suction means is operative towithdraw a sheet from the top of the pile.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sheet is being fed forward by the suction acting through the perforations 53, and the crank pin is rotating clockwise and consequently the dog or.

pawl 240 is moving backward over the ratchet wheel. InFig. 4 the sheet has been taken between the feed rolls 67 and tapes 66 and has left the wheels, 50, '51, the valve 59 being about to be opened by cam 65 and arm 63 to thereby relieve the suction. It will be noted, that. the crank pin 244 is at the lowest point of its rotation,'and as it con tinue's to rotate will pull the rod 241 upward, thereby rotating the angle lever 239 and moving the pawl 240; in a direction to rotate the ratchet wheel, when it engages a.

tooth on the same, it being obvious that the pawl is just beginning its feeding stroke:

and has its full travel to make. Hence, with the-relation of the parts as shown and described, the pile of sheets will not be ele- -vated when a sheet is being started to the machine, by the suction apparatus.

. ditions of size and weight of the sheets be-- The suction produced through the apertures 53 must be regulated to meet the coning used. After the mechanism is properly adjusted for a given kind ofsheets anything which retards the forward movement of the sheet will interfere with the successful operation of the suction feed. If the pile of sheets iselevated while a sheet is being started off the pile by the suction means, the friction on the sheet, produced by the upward pressure of the pile against the height gage. so retards the sheet as to throw it out of its position, if'indeed the sheet is not entirely held from movement.

The upward movement of the pile pushes the lower end of the same against'the arm 246 until the arm catches in the notch in the end of the detent. It is obvious that'thus there may be produced suflicient pressure between the height gage and the top sheet to pre- I vent the withdrawal of thel same by the suc-- tion means. This difficulty is obyiated by constructing the machiniso that the pile elevating mechanism is fnot actuated while the suction feeding means isbperable on a 1 sheet.

When stiff card-board or curled paper is being used it is found desirable to provide means to lift the top sheet of the pile so that the blast of air may, enter thereunder and positively separate the sheets; The mechanism for accomplishing this is illustrated in detail in Figs. 9 and 10 and,is shown in com-*' bination with the other parts in Fig. 7. The bracket 260 which carries the fingers of the two sheet detectors may be formed at each end. thereof with upstanding bearings 300 and 301 for a rock shaft 302; Mounted on this rock shaft is a lever 303 having an arm 304 adapted to be actuated by a cam 305 mounted on the shaft 38. The'arm of the lever carries a roller 306 which is in direct contactwith the periphery of the cam- The other arm 307 of the'lever is adapted to actuate a suction tube 308 A torsion spring 309 is interposed betwee'nthe bearing 300 and the hub of the 'lever.303 and is arrangedv to normally keep the roller 306 in contact with the cam. As clearly shown in Fig. 10 the interior of the nozzle 54 is formed with the off-set chamber 310 through which is adapted to slide the suction tube 308. The nose of the nozzle is provided with an extension 311 which is adapted-to be secured by a screw 05 312 to the bar 98-, thus supporting the nozzle .firnily in position. The suction tube 308 is formed with an aperture 313 which is adapted to register at certain times with the chamber 310. At-the upper end the suction tube 119 may be fitted with two plugs 314 and 315 and formed with a slot 316, all arranged to receive the end of the arm 307 of the actu-L, ating lever. It will be observed that by this arrangement of parts that thesuction tube .1 i

;ting the blast of air from the nozzle 74 to enter thereunder to'separate the sheet from the pile and at the sametimeto'bring the same positively within the field of action of the suction produced through the per-forations 53 of the wheels 50 and 51.' If it=is deon the valve operating arm 63 has just fallen sired to operate the mechanism without using the suction tube the stop plate 318 contact with the cam and the entire suction tube'mechanism will be inoperative. W th the parts inthe positions illustrated in Fig. 10 it will be noted that the roller 64 into the recess of its cooperating cam thereby closing the'valve 59 and establishing a.

suction in the interior of the nozzle 54. In this position the flanges of the wheels 50 and 51 close the openings 57' of the nozzle-and the full force of the suction is exerted through the suction tube 308. As the suction tube cam 305 advances in the direction of the arrow, the operating lever 303 slowly lifts the tube in the direction of the dotted line position. When the lower part of the tube approaches thestripper plate it is momentarily retarded while the blast is blowing between the topsheet and the pile, thus effectively separating this top sheet and introducing a film of air for the sheet to Whilejthe invention'has been disclosed as embodied in a specific structure it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a rotary member having perforations therein, a nozzle contacting with said member and so arranged that said perforations are moved across the mouth thereof,

suction means at all times connected with said nozzle, and a valve for opening and closing said nozzle to the external atmosphere in timed relation to the rotations of said member.

2. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a rotary member having perforations therein, a nozzle contacting with said member and so arranged that said perforations are moved across the mouth therei of, an aperture in the wall of said nozzle for placing the interior of the nozzle in com municationwith the atmosphere, suction means at all times connected with said nozzle, and a valve for opening and closing saldaperture in timed relation to the rotation of said member.

3. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table, a wheel on said shaft having a peripheral flange with radial perforations,

a nozzle having its mouth contacting with sand flange, suction means connected with said nozzle, a rock shaft arranged over said table, a valve carried by said rock shaft, a cam on the first mentioned shaft, and an arm on said rock shaft cooperating with said cam and whereby said valve is actuated in timed relation to the rotations of said wheel.

4. In sheet feeding mechanism the combination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table, a pair of wheels on said shaft having opposed peripheral flanges with radial perforations, a suction pipe arranged above saidtable, a nozzle on said pipe projecting between said wheels and contacting with said flanges, a rock shaft, and a valve carried by said rock shaft and cooperating with said nozzle to control the suction therein.

5. In sheet bination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table, a pair of wheels on said shaft having opposed peripheral flanges with radial perforations, a suction pipe arranged above said table, a nozzle on said pipe projecting between said wheels and contacting with said flanges, a rock shaft, a valve carried by said rock shaft and cooperating with said nozzle to control the suction therein, a cam wheel on the first mentioned shaft, and an arm on said rock shaft cooperating with said cam. p

6. In sheet feeding mechanism the combi nation of a'table, a shaft arranged above said table, a pair of wheels on said shaft having opposed peripheral flanges with radial perforations, a suction pipe arranged.

above said table, a nozzle on said pipe projecting between said wheels and contacting with said flanges, a rock shaft, a valve carried by said rock shaft and cooperating with said nozzle to control the suctiontherein, a cam -wheel on the first mentioned shaft, an arm on said rock' haft cooperating with said cam, and means to prevent the actuation of said rock shaft.

7. In a heet feeding mechanism, the combination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table,-a pair of wheelson said shaft having opposed peripheral flanges with radial perforations, a suction pipe arranged above said table, a nozzle on said pipe projecting between said wheels and contacting with said flanges, a rock shaft, a valve carried by said rock shaft and cooperating with said nozzle to control the-suction therein, a

feeding mechanism the comcam Wheel on the first mentioned shaft, an

jecting between said wheels and contacting with said flanges, a rock shaft, a valve carrled by said rock shaft and cooperating with aid nozzle to control the suction therein, a

cam wheel on the first mentioned shaft, an .arm on said roc'k shaft cooperating with I said cam, and means actuated by said first mentioned'shaft for periodically preventing the actuation of said rock shaft.

9. In sheet feedingmechanism, the com cam wheel'on the first mentioned shaft, an

arm on said rock shaft cooperating with said cam,'andpineans intermittently actuated by said first mentioned'shaft to periodically prevent the actuation of said rock shaft.

10. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table, a pair of wheel on said shaft having 0 posed peripheral flanges with radial per orations,.a suction pipe arranged above said table, a nozzle on said pipe projecting between said wheels and contacting with said flanges, a rock-shaft, a valve carried by said rock shaft and cooperating with said nozzle to control the suction therein, a cam wheel on the first mentioned shaft, an arm on said rock shaft cooperating with said cam,.means controlled by the sheets to automatically prevent the actuation of said rock shaft, and a star wheel intermittently operated by said first-mentioned shaft to prevent alternate normal actuations of said rock shaft.

a rotatable shaft connected with said hood and extending to the side of the machine-for ad-- 3 1 1. In a machine of theclass described, the combination of a feed table, an air nozzle located substantially at the middle ofthe forward side of said table, an adjust able hood associated, with said nozzle and adapted to deflect a jetin different direc-' tions from the nozzle, and means at the side of the machinefor adjusting the position of said hood. Y

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a feed table, an air nozzle located substantially at the middle of-the forwardside of said't'able, a hood pivoted on the nozzle and adapted to deflect a jet ,in different directions from the nozzle, and

justing the position of the hood. r 13. In a machine of the class described,

' the combination of a feed table, a vertically adjustable air nozzle located substantially at the middle 'of'theforward side of said -table, an adjustable hood associated with said noz zle and adapted to deflect a jet in different directions from the nozzle, and means at the side of the machine for adjusting said h od.

14; In a sheet feeding mechanism, the

combination of pneumat1c means for for-- warding .a sheet and pneumatic suction means associated with said first means for bringing vthe sheet within the field of actio of the forwarding means.

15. Ina sheet feeding mechanism, a table for supporting a pile of sheets, pneumatic means arranged over the pile operable to forward sheets and reciprocating "means associated with the first means to take a sheet from the pile and carry, the same into the field of action of said pneumatic means.

16. In a sheet feeding mechanism,'means to forward the top sheet of a pile, reciproeating pneumatic means carried by the forwarding means and means to reciprocate the pneumatic means to engage and carry the top sheet to the forwarding means.

17. In a sheet feeding mechanism, pneu-v matic means including a nozzle for forwarding a sheet, means for picklng up and presenting a sheet to said pneumatic forwarding 'means and earned by said nozzle.

18. In a sheet feeding mechanism, pneumatic means including a nozzle for forwarding asheet, pneumatic means for picking up and presenting a sheet-to said Pneumatic forwarding means and carried by said nozzle. Y

19. In a sheet feeding mechanism, pneumatic means including a nozzle for forwarding a sheet, a' suction tube carried by said nozzle, and means for reciprocating said" tube.

20. In a sheet feeding mechanism, pneumatic means for forwarding-a sheet, a second pneumatic means for bringing the top sheet of a pile within the field of action of the first pneumatic means, and means for rendering said second pneumatic means inoperative,

'21. In a sheet feeding mechanism, intermittently acting suction means to'forward a sheet, a slidlngly mounted suction tube adapted to be moved into contactwith the top sheet of a pile to raise it within the field of action of the suction means, and means to.

reciprocatethe tube in timed relation with the intermittently acting suction means.

22. In' a sheet feeding mechanism, intermittently acting suction means to forward a sheet, a slidingly mounted tube connected.

with the said suction means and adapted to be moved into contact with the top sheet of a pile, to-raise it within the field of action of the suction means, and means to reciprocate the tube in timed relation with the intermittently. acting suction means.

23. In .a sheet .fe'edingj mechanism, a pri-. mary suction means for forwarding a sheet,

anda secondary suction means pneumati- .cally connected with the first means for bringing a sheet to the primary suction means.

24. In a sheet feeding mechanism, two.

connected suction devices, one to forward a sheet and the other to bring a sheet to the forwarding device.

25. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a rotary member having perforations therein, a nozzle. contacting with said member'and so arranged that said perforations are moved across the mouth thereof, suction means connected with said nozzle, a slidingly mounted tube carried. by said nozzle and pneumatically connected therewith, and means for reciprocating said tube.

26. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a rotary member having perof, means for intermittently producing a suction in said nozzle, a slidingly mounted tube earned by said nozzle, means for producing a suction in said tube, and means for reciprocating the tube in timed relation to the suction in the nozzle.

28. *In a sheet feeding mechanism the combination of means for discharging a blast of air against am edge of the top sheet ofa pile, suction means for raisingsaid edge to permit the blast to pass under the sheet and secondary suction means pneumatically connected withthe first means for feeding the sheet forward.

29. In sheet feeding mechanism the combination of a rotary member having an aidally extending flange provided with a seriesof radial perforations, a nozzle contacting with the inner side 'of said flange and so arranged that said perforations are moved across the mouth thereof, means to periodically produce a suction in said nozzle, and mechanism to render alternate actuations of said means inoperative. V

30. In sheet feeding mechanism the combination of a rotary member having-anaxially extending flange provided with a series of radial .perforations, a nozzle contacting with the innerside of said flange and so arranged that said perforations are moved across the mouth thereof, suction means connected to said nozzle, a valve for opening and closing said nozzle to the external atmosphere, means to close said valve at regular intervals, and means to render said closing means inoperative for alternate actua? tions. i

31. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means to support a pile of sheets, of a device located substantially centrally of the width of the machine to direct a jet of air under the top sheet of the pile, said devicebeing adjustable to vary the direction of the jet, and means operable from the side of the machine to adjust said device.

32. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a rotary member having perforations therein, a nozzle contacting with said member and so arranged that said perforations are moved to cross the mouth thereof, suction means connected with said nozzle, a valve for opening andclosing said nozzle to the external atmosphere, means to actuate said valve at regular'intervals and means to hold said valve open every 'second time that it would normally close, to

cause the feeding mechanism to skip every alternate feeding operation.

33. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table, a wheel on said shaft having a peripheral flange with radial perforations, a nozzle having its mouth contacting with said flange, suction means connected with said nozzle, a rock shaft arranged over said table, a valve carried by said rock shaft, a cam on the first mentioned shaft, an. arm on said rock shaft cooperating with said cam whereby said valve is actuated in timed relation to the rotations of said wheel, and means acting on said arm to hold it from actuation by the cam at regular intervals.

34. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination of a table, a shaft arranged above said table, a whe el on said shaft having a peripheral flange with radial perforations, a nozzle having its mouth'contacting with said flange, suction means connected with said nozzle, a rock shaft, a valve operated by said rock shaft to control the suction in the nozzle, a cam wheel rotatable with the first mentioned shaft, an arm on said rock shaft actuated by said cam whereby said valve is operated at regular intervals '36.: In a sheet feeding mechanism, the

combination of pneumatic means for formittently acting suction means to forward a sheet, a slidingly mounted suction tube adapted to be moved into contact with the to sheet of a pile to raise it withni the' fie d of action of the suction means, means sheet to the primary suction forward at operative position to omit alternate operato reciprocate the tube in timed relation with the intermittently acting suction means, and normally inactive means adapted to be adjusted to operative position to cause the mechanism to skip alternate sheet raising and forwarding operations.

38'. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a pri mary suction means for forwarding a sheet, a secondary suction means for bringing a means, means. to produce a suction in said primary and secondary. means at regular intervals, and normally inactive'means adapted to be adjusted to operative position to skip the production of alternate suctions.

39. In a sheet'feeding mechanism, the.

combination of means for dischargin a blast of air against an edge of the top sheet of a pile, suction means for raisin said edge to permit the blast to pass un er the sheet, pneumatic means for feeding a sheet regular intervals, and normally inactive means adapted to be adjusted to tions of said sheet raising and feeding means.

v 40. The combination of rotary sheet forwarding means, means oscillated in timed relation to the operations of said forwarding means and controlling the operation thereof, and a star wheel having long and short arms cooperating with the second mentioned means and adapted to control the movements thereof to periodically avoid forwarding sheets.

41. Apparatus of the character described including in combination, pneumatic means to forward sheets. normally at regular intervals and normally inoperative means adapt- ,ed to be adjusted to operative position to prevent alternate operations of said forwarding means.

42. Apparatus of the character described including in combination, pneumatic means to forward sheets normally at regular intervals, said means including a member moved at regular intervals; and normall tive means adapted to'be adjuste to operative position toprevent alternate-movements of said member.

43. Apparatus of the character described including in combination, pneumatic means to forward sheets, said means including a rotating cam and a member actuated at.

regular intervals thereby; and normally inoperative means adapted to be adjusted to operative position to prevent alternate actuations' of said member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

I WILLIAM M. KELLY.

inopera- 

